Ignition safety system for garden tractors

ABSTRACT

An ignition safety system for garden tractors, with an electric circuit including a battery, a generator, and an ignition coil. A plurality of electric switches are connected in the circuit, and a weight-responsive tractor seat has one of the switches thereunder for closing when the operator sits in the seat. There are two more of the said switches which are manually operated, preferably by keys, with one of the two switches being in series connection with the seat-operated switch, and with the other of the two switches being in parallel connection with the seatoperated switch to electrically bypass the seat-operated switch, all at the discretion of the operator.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Morris W. Reid;

Harry E. Kline, Racine, Wis. [21] App1.No. 836,916 [22] Filed June 26,1969 [45] Patented Mar. 9, 1971 [73] Assignee J. I. Case Company Racine,Wis.

[54] IGNITION SAFETY SYSTEM FOR GARDEN TRACTORS 4 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.6

[52] US. Cl 307/10, 180/ 101 [51] Int. Cl H02g 3/00 [50] Field of Search180/101, 104; 307/9, 10; 200/85 (A), 85, 89

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,612,232 9/1952 Morrisonl80/l0lX 3,229,452 l/l966 Hasenbank 180/101X Primary ExaminerRobert K.Schaefer Assistant Examiner-H. J. l-lohauser Attorney-Arthur J. HansmannABSTRACT: An ignition safety system for garden tractors, with anelectric circuit including a battery, a generator, and an ignition coil.A plurality of electric switches are connected in the circuit, and aweight-responsive tractor seat has one of the switches thereunder forclosing when the operator sits in the seat. There are two more of thesaid switches which are manually operated, preferably by keys, with oneof the two switches being in series connection with the seat-operatedswitch, and with the other of the two switches being in parallelconnection with the seat-operated switch to electrically bypass theseat-operated switch, all at the discretion of the operator.

PATENTEUMAR 9I97| 3.569726 IN l/E'NTORS: MORRIS W RE I 0 HAPPY E. K LINE IGNIITKON SAFETY SYSTEM FOR GARDEN TRACTORS BACKGROUND or THEINVENTION Ignition safety systems for garden tractors, and the type ofsystem utilizing seat-operated switches, is generally well known in theart. Thus, the prior art is already aware of safety systems where thetractor electric circuit is in an operative position when the operatoris sitting on the seat, but as soon as the operator removes his weightfrom the seat, the electric system is then inoperative. Generally thetractor seat lowers when the operator sits in it, and an electric switchis mounted to respond to the lowered seat position, and this controlsthe electric circuit, either by opening or closing theswitch, dependingupon the particular arrangement and desire. One arrangement is to havethe-seat-operated switch closed when the operator sits on the seat, andthe switch then automatically opens when the operator gets off the seat,and the opening of the switch affects the electric circuit to stop theflow of current to the tractor engine, for instance, so that the tractoris automatically stopped when the operator gets off the seat. In thismanner, when the tractor is powering a rotary lawn mower, or otherinherently dangerous implement, or for any other reason, when theoperator gets off the seat, the danger is removed by having the rotarymowers stop operation. Such structural arrangement is in the nature ofthe well-known dead man switch where the switch is open when theoperator is no longer holding the switchin the closed position.

The problem with the prior art type of safety switches described aboveis that there are times when it is desirable to have the tractorcontinue running when the operator is actually removed from the seat andmay even be off the tractor completely. That is, the safety switchdescribed may be desired only with a powering of certain implements,such as the rotary mower, or only when certain operators are using thetractor, or only under certain conditions of use, or the like. At othertimes, and even with occasions of the examples mentioned, such as withthe use of rotary mowers, it may still be desirable to have the tractorrunning when the seator like dead mans or safety switch is not in theposition for operativeness of the electric system.

By way of further and a more specific example, when a rotary lawn moweris used on the garden tractor, and when a relatively unskilled orinexperienced person is using the tractor, it is then desirable to havethe safety switch effective. However, when a more reliable or cautiousand skilled operator is using the tractor, then the safety switch canactually be a nuisance if it is effective in stopping the running of thetractor every time the operator gets off the seat. Also, even thoughcertain inherently dangerous or other types of implements are beingpowered by the tractor, or even under certain dangerous or otherpeculiar conditions of operating the tractor, it is desirable to havethe tractor continue running even when the operator is off the seat andthe safety switch is then not in the position for normally continuingthe running of the tractor.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide anignition safety system for garden tractors, wherein the safety system isoperative under certain conditions, but the system is also effective tobypass the safety portion of the system so that the tractor can beoperated without the safety switch. That is, the operator has theelection of using or not using the safety switch.

Still further, it is an object of this invention to provide a selectivetype of ignition safety system for garden tractors, wherein the operatoris required to perform specific steps in running the tractor when hedesires to run it without the safety switch being effective. Thestructure disclosed herein for accomplishing this object includes theprovision of' two keyoperated switches, each requiring a separate key.Then, the operator must have two keys in order to operate the systemwithout the safety switch being effective and then, if one were not tooperate the tractor without the safety switch being effective, he couldnot do so unless he had the two keys. However, if he has only one keyfor operating the one switch only,

then the safety switch must also be operative in order for the tractorto be running. The consequence of this type of system is that asupervisor can give an operator only one key, and then the safety switchis operative. Of course if the operator has the two keys, then thesafety'switch is not operative and the tractor can be run even thoughthe operator is not sitting in the seat. 1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an ignition safetysystem for garden tractors, including a seat responsive safety switchfor controlling the electric circuit of the tractor, and including twoadditional switches in the electric circuit for selectively and manuallycontrolling the electric circuit to place it in the operative orinoperative condition. One of the two additional switches is seriesconnected with the seat safety switch, and the other of the twoadditional switches is parallel connected withthe seat safety switch tobypass the seat safety switch at the election of the operator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic andperspective view of a preferred embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A fragment of a gardentractor is shown in that the drawing shows an operators seat 10 mountedon a tractor support member 11. A weight-responsive mounting or springmember 12 connects to the tractor seat frame 13 and extends above thepedestal or support 11. With this arrangement, when the operatoroccupies the seat 10, the spring 12 will flex under the operator'sweight, and a pressure-responsive safety switch 14 is actuated inresponse to the flexing of the spring 12. That is, the switch 14 is ofany conventional and well-known pressure responsive type, and it has aplunger 16 extending upwardly toward the spring 12 to be contacted bythelatter when the operator is sitting in the seat. Suchcontact of theplunger 16 depresses the plunger and causes the switch 14 to be in theclosed and operative position.

It will also be understood that the tractor includes the conventionalcomponents of well-known garden tractors of the riding type, such asthat shown in US. Pat. No. 3,229,452. That is, the tractor used in thepresent invention can be used to power a rotary mower, such as shown inthe cited patent. Of course many other types of implements could also bepowered by a tractor of this invention, and the tractor could be usedfor powering various implements or tools, such as that shown in US. Pat.No. 3,258,083.

The drawings also show a fragment 17 of a tractor frame which has anelectric starter-generator 18 thereon. Further, there is shown anelectric battery 19, a starter button 21, a voltage regulator 22, and anignition coil 23. The aforementioned components'are all conventional,and they are incor porated in the tractor in the usual and well-knownmanner for running the tractor engine which is not shown. The drawingalso shows the electric wires connecting the components to electricallycomplete the system or circuit in the conventional manner. Two normallyopened and manually operated switches 24 and 26 are also shown in thecircuit, and electric terminals 27 and 28 are shown on switch 24 andelectric terminals 29 and 31 are shown on switch 26. Electric wire 32connects terminal 28 into the system, and electric wire 33 connectsswitch 24 with switch 14. Electric wire 34 connects one side of switch26 with one side of both the switches 14 and 24, and electric wire 36connects the other side of switch 26 with the wire 37 extending betweenthe switch 14 and the ignition coil 23. It will therefore be understoodthat all of the switches are effective on the ignition coil 23 so thatthey respectively control the flow of current to the coil 23 and therebyto the unshown tractor engine, as desired.

Therefore, switch 24 is in a series connection with the seat switch 14,in the circuit, and switch 26 is in a parallel connection with seatswitch 14, in the circuit. With this arrangement, at all times ofrunning the engine, switch 24 must be in the closed position. However,closing either switch 14 or 26, but not both, is also required tocomplete the circuit to the ignition coil 23. Of course when theoperator is occupying the seat 10, then the switch 14 is closed and thecircuit is complete regardless of the position of switch 26. However,when the operator is not in the seat and therefore the switch 14 is notclosed, only upon closing switch 26 will the circuit be completed forrunning the tractor engine.

Switches 24 and 26 can be of different structural type so that they areresponsive only to different structurally shaped keys having differentteeth. Thus, a key 38 is shown engaged with switch 24, and a key 39 isshown engaged with switch 26 and the keys 38 and 39 are switch controlmembers. Keys 38 and 39 may also be of different structural type, sothat they have different teeth, such as the shown key teeth 41 and 42 onthe companion keys hanging on keys 38 and 39, respectively. Also, thelock-type switches 24 and 26 and the lock keys 38 and 39 may all bestructurally the same, but it would still require two keys forsimultaneous operating of the two keyoperated or lock-type switches 24and 26, when that simultaneous type of operation is desired.

With the structure and system described, the operator having only key 38must occupy the seat 10 in order to have the tractor engine running.However, if it is desired to have the tractor engine running when theseat 10 is not occupied, then the operator must have both keys 38 and 39so that he can close both switches 24 and 26 and thereby complete thecircuit to the engine. In closing switch 26, the operator is bypassingthe seat safety switch 14, and this he may desire to do.

We claim:

1. In an ignition safety system for a garden tractor, an electriccircuit including a battery and a generator and an ignition coil and aplurality of electric switches controlling flow of electric current insaid circuit, a tractor seat having a weightresponsive support forlowering said seat under the weight of the operator, a first one of saidelectric switches being responsive to the lowering of said seat to beelectrically closed when said seat is occupied and to be electricallyopen when said seat is unoccupied, the improvement comprising all ofsaid switches being separate devices and independently operative, aseparate control member for each respective one of the other of saidswitches, said other of said plurality of switches being two normallyopen and manually operated switches and at all times all said switchesbeing operative independent from each other, one of said manuallyoperated switches being electrically connected in series with said firstone of said switches, and the other of said manually operated switchesbeing electrically connected in parallel with said first one of saidswitches and connected in said circuit to electrically bypass said firstone of said switches.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said two manually operatedswitches are key-operated switches, and said control members for saidtwo manually operated switches are two keys for operating said twomanually operated switches.

3. The subject matter of claim 2, wherein said two keys are structurallydifferent relative to each other by having different arrangements ofteeth, and said two manually operated switches are structurallydifferent relative to each other, with one of said two manually operatedswitches being operative only in response to the use of only arespective one of said two keys, and with the other of said two manuallyoperated switches being operative only in response to the use of onlythe other of said two keys.

4. The subject matter of claim 2, wherein said two keys are structurallythe same relative to each other by having the same arrangement of teeth,and said two manually operated switches are structurally the samerelative to each other, with both of said manually operated switchesbeing operative in response to each of said two keys.

1. In an ignition safety system for a garden tractor, an electriccircuit including a battery and a generator and an ignition coil and aplurality of electric switches controlling flow of electric current insaid circuit, a tractor seat having a weight-responsive support forlowering said seat under the weight of the operator, a first one of saidelectric switches being responsive to the lowering of said seat to beelectrically closed when said seat is occupied and to be electricallyopen when said seat is unoccupied, the improvement comprising all ofsaid switches being separate devices and independently operative, aseparate control member for each respective one of the other of saidswitches, said other of said plurality of switches being two normallyopen and manually operated switches and at all times all said switchesbeing operative independent from each other, one of said manuallyoperated switches being electrically connected in series with said firstone of said switches, and the other of said manually operated switchesbeing electrically connected in parallel with said first one of saidswitches and connected in said circuit to electrically bypass said firstone of said switches.
 2. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said twomanually operated switches are key-operated switches, and said controlmembers for said two manually operated switches are two keys foroperating said two manually operated switches.
 3. The subject matter ofclaim 2, wherein said two keys are structurally different relative toeach other by having different arrangements of teeth, and said twomanually operated switches are structurally different relative to eachother, with one of said two manually operated switches being operativeonly in response to the use of only a respective one of said two keys,and with the other of said two manually operated switches beingoperative only in response to the use of only the other of said twokeys.
 4. The subject matter of claim 2, wherein said two keys arestructurally the same relative to each other by having the samearrangement of teeth, and said two manually operated switches arestructurally the same relative to each other, with both of said manuallyoperated switches being operative in response to each of said two keys.